Down sizing (LOL) and moving to be closer to my younger daughter.
Just starting to dig peonies up. My plan is to transport them as dormant roots packed in coolers of barely moist peat moss.
I am washing the roots, sterilizing by soaking briefly in peroxide solution. Then packing. They will be stored in unheated garage or storage unit until spring. Don't have new house yet.

Good luck with house hunting and with moving your collection Caroline! I hope you find a dream house below your budget so you can get even more peonies!

Good luck Caroline! The roots should be fine until spring.

Good luck Caroline! I hope that you find a wonderful new home.
I'm sure the peonies will be fine.

Caroline, how are you going about washing your roots? Mine are in clay soil and there is so much soil clinging to them that it is difficult to wash the soil off before surface sterilizing. Have you (or anyone) tried letting the soil dry on the root so it can be mostly brushed off before washing? OR would this let the root dry out too much? I've got about 250 to dig (not all are going with me to my larger house and smaller garden, is that downsizing?) and only 8 weeks to finish that task plus packing up my house.

Best way is to hose the roots off. Or, let them soak in water for 30 minutes, then use a hose to wash them off.

We are under water restrictions so I am not washing them all that well.
Some, I did allow to dry so could knock some of the dirt off.
Not sure that this will be successful for some of the roots. They are small and chewed off by the voles. Might just take the larger roots and plan on ordering replacements for vole damaged ones.

That's too bad Caroline. I have heard from others that their peonies are getting chewed up by voles too.

I have used both methods of removing soil from roots - usually letting it dry because I am dividing the roots and leaving them for a day or two softens them up so they're no longer brittle and easily broken when dividing. If I'm in a hurry and still need to divide I have left them submerged in tubs of water for a day or two with absolutely no downside to this. I often just wiggle my fingers through remaining clay lumps while in the water, pulling the clump up and down rapidly to get the water into all crevices.

I appreciate the useful comments here. I'm still trying to work out the best method for me. Hosing off even after a soak is not very effective due to clay soil, encrusted rocks and entangled weed roots. I like to get mine as clean as possible before doing a hydrogen peroxide soak since I am selling some and moving others to a new garden. Going to start letting them dry for a few days to see if I can get most soil off easier that way.

Spent the last week house hunting. A frustrating process!
My daughter made me a check list for what I want. One of the criteria is a peony friendly yard. I can find nice peony friendly yards,but then the house doesn't meet the other criteria! Or if the house meets the criteria , then it is not the best for peonies!
Continuing to look. It will be there ,but takes time to find.

Good luck Caroline with your house hunting hope you find the best of both worlds.